Pages

Thursday, 7 January 2010

Snoooooow! :)

As you've probably heard, we're experiencing 'heavy snowfall' on the Island! Which is odd - just after we were saying how very little snow we get! Lol.

I say 'heavy snowfall' but for those who are used to snow, this would be a tiny amount! But as we're not used to it at all - it's caused chaos! Lol. This is the most snow we've had in 20 years - so I guess the councils think there's no point in getting all prepared for something that's so rare.

Anyway, I thought I'd show you a few pics from yesterday...apparently the snow's going to stay with us for a week... :-S

Brooke and I contemplating the design of our polar bear...

Some birdies. :) (We've been putting out food for them, don't worry. ;))

33 comments:

Nothing like a good snow, eh, Holly? lol It sure did wreak havoc there. It is the same way here when we get snow. A very rare event. I just love your little groovy snow hat, lol. You and Brooke both look adorable.

Beware one thing though. There is an old Appalachian saying that says, 'If snow stays around on the ground for two or more days, it is waiting for more'. Now that might not apply to Merry Old England but, then again, us Appalachians are part Indian with the other part being Scots-Irish (us originals anyway) so, it might!

It is too bad about the Anchor gig being weathered out, and possibly the Saturday one as well. Just be patient and realize that in the course of life, there will be some times like this. They make us stronger! Thanks for the great pictures, Sis, and thanks for the post, Holly! Stay warm!

We got dumped on by snow here in the midwest today, but it's normal for this time of year. People sometimes joke about how towns in the south shut down when they get a little snow, but they obviously can't budget snowplows and salt trucks for a once in a blue moon occurrence. (wasn't there just a blue moon?) So it makes safe sense to close schools and roads there until the snow melts.

Yes, Dan. I suppose that is right. One thing that is worse than the snow though, is the fact that nearly no one here knows how to drive in it or has any real experience. They make it too dangerous for those of us who grew up with snow and have no problem driving on it, to even go out. The roads get clogged with their wrecks because they will not even slow down until they crash. I learned how to drive on snowy mountain roads but these people around here are far more dangerous. I guess it is OK where you are if it is a 'normal' event.

Dan, lol, I just saw your link. How true, lol! Funny thing is, I have several sites bookmarked in my 'Dict' folder (on the toolbar) that are exactly the same thing. You can Google 'british + slang' and see zillions of them. What really pushed me to do it in a serious way was when Holly spoke of something being 'pants'. Now, I know what that means but, before, I had no idea, other than what I could infer. 'pants' is a new and trendy one.

Want to know what is really weird about living on the east coast of the US? We get the new stuff from two sides. So fast that we have no time to 'develope' anything. From the East, we get things like, 'pants'. And from the West, we get God only knows what coming out of California on the West coast (or the 'Left coast') as we call it here. Sheesh...

Lol. I don't really think my use of language is a very accurate representation of everyday Isle of Wight/English language. I use kind of 'tame' words...pants is a bit of a posh sounds 'curse'. I say 'WELL good' more than anyone I know...I haven't heard anyone else of my age use the word 'groovy'. Lol.

Just out of interest, what kind of words do 'youngsters' over in America use? Is 'awesome' a popular one? That would sound reeeeally posh if I said that! Lol. Kind of like... oooooorsum. :D

Language is such an interesting thing. I am afraid that I cannot help you much with what the youngsters here use. I am not around them. Dan should have some input on that. 'Awesome', I can tell you a bit about. Some years ago, maybe 10 or 15 (a guess), the teenagers were noted in the news all the time to be using their own vocabulary and, that it was not understood by older folks. It was often on the TV news and papers as a humorous but true side-line.

'Awesome' was started by teens here. It was like the favorite - chosen word for the older generation (and news) to use in jest - with a grin, that signified the youngsters' word. I can remember it happening but am unsure of the exact time period. The news sometimes made fun, or made a joke of it by saying 'something was awesome, as the teens would say'. And it grew from there to become a buzzword that everybody uses all the time now.

'Groovy' was a popular word in the 50s & 60s, the hippies liked it and likely started it. It is not as popular as it was back then but is still common enough.

What is 'posh'?

Unfortunately, I am not around teens (or anyone else, really). Back when I was, I was out of my head all the time and was a waste of space. Now, is a new life and I am only 2 1/4 years into it. Just a baby, lol. My grandson is your age now and is in university. Other than that, I have some teen second cousins in KY but, they are surely behind the times and trends. Wow. Getting carried away here, lol.

I can understand you pretty good now but, that guy was not even close to my understanding, lol. My uncle Verlin always likes to tell me about how he loves to listen to you sing and loves your songs but has not idea what you are saying. Well, he is full-blown Appalachian and still lives there and speaks it. Most of mine has been lost or overcome. But even so, I can remember at the beginning that I too had a more difficult time understanding the British accent. And let me add that even so, I have always loved it more than any other. So, I feel that experience is the real key to understanding. The choice of words and even slang, not to mention the strange 'rhyming slang' (especially when ya just use the first word, which may not be the rhymer, lol) is just an adventure in language. imho

Now you are making me blush, lol. Yes, when we left the Kentucky mountains for Virginia, we just pretended to be 'highfalutin' by telling people that we had never eaten Polk Salad (polkweed), a wild plant we lived on. How sad is that!? Yeah, maybe I can record uncle Verlin for you sometime. It would have to be off the phone. Wait, I will be going back there to hook up his new computer when it arrives. Maybe then. :)

Oh that hat is a Tibetan style one, I have a couple, I bought one and then my Mum copied and knitted one for me - yep, we have hats like that here - lovely pics, loved the sparrows in the snow - enjoy!!! Love Susan and Spoggy xxxx

Looked for Polk Salad on the net and came up with this interesting little song which I had never heard before:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-5CU6_FFWK8Since he was brought up in Tennessee (which I see from the map is just south of Kentucky) I guess he was well acquainted with the dish.

lol @ xena! Been a while since I heard that old song, lol. It came out in 1969 by Tom White. I had never heard it done by Elvis but, I never did like him much. If you care to hear the original, here it is:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wkdcUa-pQlgBut yes, the song does point out that poor people lived on it, lol. As for Tennessee, my little corner of Kentucky is at the junction of Kentucky, Virginia and, Tennesse. The very point where the three meet. It is called 'Cumberland Gap' and is the only nearby natural 'gap' in the mountain range. It was discovered by Daniel Boone and then used to lead my Scots-Irish ancestors across the mountains to settle the West. The Indians got many of them along the way too. My paternal great grandmother was a full blooded Cherokee Indian. Even so, the Cherokee Indian women were quite beautiful.

Our big snow blizzard came and went overnight. Just got up here and there is only a small trace of snow to be seen on the north side of the house (only). One tiny little patch. About usual, lol. But north and west of us got tons. As usual, lol.

Cumberland Gap. haven't heard that mentioned for years. Reminded me of this:When you say " Even so, the Cherokee Indian women were quite beautiful." is that what you are claiming is the source of your film star appearance?

LOL! Sorry, but I have never been in a film except the one my uncle Verlin took of me when I visited a few months ago.

That link is cool, lol. There is a really rockin' Bluegrass tune named 'Cumberland Gap', done by many BG artists. One thing the guy got wrong in the video you posted was at :21 when he sings, '15 miles from Middlesboro' ('Middlesborough' was the original Irish spelling). Actually, I was born in Middlesboro and it is just on the other side of the mountain from CG, about 3 miles, lol. Thanks for the memories!

LOL, I left a comment for that guy who uploaded the CG road trip and told him I thought it would be cool (or something to that effect) had he used that banjo tune to go with it, lol. Next thing I knew, I was notified that he had replied to my comment, and soon thereafter that he had subbed my YT channel, lol. Yes, Earl Scruggs is the one who started the 3-finger style (the Scruggs style). All banjo players strive to imitate him. I once heard a famous person (?) say that if Earl called it a 'banjer' (bain-jer)(in his Appalachian accent), then, a 'banjer' it was! lol

It was so cold here last night that I had ice on the inside of the french windows when I drew the curtains back this morning. Brr.Here's a couple of shots of the Heath as the sun comes up.Hampstead HeathLarry ~ I've got a friend in PA who says it was 3f outside his place up in the mountains yesterday. When I was there a while back he had lots of chipmunks running about. I bet they look good with a snowy background.

Those pictures are lovely but they do look (((cold))), lol. Know what you mean about the ice on the inside too. That used to be a normal thing here because I only had any heat in one (this) room, and very little at that. This year (and future ones) there is a real heating system in the house. Very nice but expensive, lol.

So far, this has been one of the coldest Januarys I remember. It is just -7C (19 F) now. Several mornings have been in the teens (F) with the rest in the 20s. That is unusual. One more month to go after Jan. I am ready for the 4th of July in a serious way, lol!

I wonder if Holly will be playing the Woodvale tonight... They had a huge snow!

Just set up a facebook a/c so I can keep up with the events. Did they decide that actually Saturday was a better day for you than Wednesday because more people would be able to make it. Have a great time.

Cool, xeno! Welcome to FB! I also posted the news in our famous Artists thread, lol. Seems like that is where I hang out most, music lover that I am. One heck of a lot of fantastic music has been through that thread! It is up to 24F now (10:30am) and I am hoping it makes it up to freezing (32F) today! :)

Hi xeno - I think Wednesday's planned gig at the Anchor and today's at the Woodvale just happened to be close together. I don't know if Wednesday's will be rescheduled, but Holly does have another gig there on March 3rd.

Uncle Tim ~ Ah! Silly me. I wasn't paying attention. I thought the Anchor gig had been postponed until today. Didn't spot that all important word 'Woodvale'. I will have to schedule a trip to IoW, when it's warm and balmy, to do a tour of the pubs so that I will know the difference. And maybe catch a live performance if I get there before her world tour.